Black Cloud is a boutique guitar and bass workshop based in Hotaka, Azumino City, in Japan's Nagano Prefecture. The company was founded in 2015 by Shinichi Kuroiwa, a former master builder at a major Japanese guitar manufacturer, and operates as a small team alongside builder Shun Yanagisawa. All instruments are produced in-house at the company's Nagano factory.

The workshop's primary instrument line is marketed under the Black Smoker name, launched in 2016. The lineup focuses on bolt-on bass guitars built around J- and P-style bodies, including the Beta J4, Beta J5, Beta P, and Delta models, as well as a Trad Master Series that offers vintage-inspired specs and aged finishes. The shop also produces six-string electric guitars and custom one-off instruments.

Black Smoker instruments are sold through Japanese retailers such as Ishibashi Music and Ikebe Gakki, and appear on the international used market through Reverb. The brand has drawn attention from players in the Japanese pro and session scene, with custom builds made for artists including bassist Misa.

Black Cloud has 21 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Electric Basses, Solid Body Electric Guitars, and Extended Range Guitars. Their gear is featured by 2 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Jazz. Notable users include MISA and Tom-H@ck.